The Magnaura

[Rowan]

Vartholomaios addresses the Magnaura

In my capacity as a dean I would like to remind all Strators that the University is accepting new students at the moment. The deadline for applications is 2nd February 12:00 GMT.

Please include a description of the field you would like to study.
Priority will be given to applicants of honorable character. Thank you.

[Northnovas]

I proposed the following edict:

Edict 8.2 The settlements of Theopolis and Damascus are freed from their current sieges, The settlements of Zagreb, Kosomopolis and Edessa are brought back into Byzantine control.

[Zim]

I second Edict 8.2.

[_Tristan_]

I second Edict 8.2

[Ituralde]

Nikitas strolls into the Magnaura.

I hope I'm not too late for the discussion, am I?

He walks over where the recordings of the recent discussions are kept and glances over them.

Well, well I see there's a lot of men vying for the post of Megas. I wish all of them good luck, may the best politician win!

[TinCow]

"The time for proposing legislation has now expired. Voting will begin soon and will continue until Wednesday, February 4th at 24:00 GMT."

[Rowan]

University clerk comes in and makes the following announcement

The scholars accepted into the University for the next term are Markos ek Sinopsis (TheFlax) and Theo Petzeas (Ibn-Khaldun).

[KnightnDay]

Fellow senators,

Having had the opportunity to carefully consider the recent actions of Helarionas Anargiros, I must say that the lack of a substantive response outside of the recent actions of Senator Markos, is most concerning. If this action had not involved the loss of life, I might well have looked, as some still do, towards a peaceful solution. Regretfully, Senator Helarionas chose to betray the confidence that the empire placed in him. He chose to expend the lives of many Byzantine soldiers, not in the protection of our lands or citizens as was his sacred duty, but in defense of himself and a woman that by law is not rightfully his.

If it is the will of the Basileus, I shall abstain from taking up arms against Senator Helarionas. Until such time as the desire of our sovereign is made clear however, I announce my intention to move against Durazzo which is still under the control of this rebellious senator, whose murderous act of betrayal deserves but a single and unambiguous reply.

Now by law I make the follow declaration. I hereby declare war on Helarionas Anargiros.

[Ignoramus]

The Komnenoi page returns and rises to address the Magnaura.

"Noble Senators, His Excellency, Ioannis Komnenos, Basileus of the Romans, is reported to have just conquered Durazzo. The garrison apparently fled before his army and the town is now under the personal control of the Basileus."

As a result, the Basileus sees no need for the conflict with Helanorios to continue, but will await for the latter to crave for pardon. Hence, he proposes peace with Helanorios.

The page bows respectfully and exits the chamber.

[Ignoramus]

The page reenters.

"His Excellency also wishes that those involved in the civil war with the rebel to make peace with him at once. Having discussed with the rebel, the Basileus has decided that he will officially sanction the marriage between the former rebel and the princess. This is not out of resignation, or intimidation, but out of the kindness of his heart.

The rebel has lost his only lands, and His Excellency considers that to be an appropriate punishment."

The page bows and leaves.

[Ituralde]

My Congratulatons to Arintheos Voutomitis for winning the close fought...

A secretary leans over to him to whisper in his ear.

Well? Really? Excluded from the Election?

Ahem. Congratulations to Arintheos Voutomitis for being elected to the post of Megas Logothetes. May he bring peace and justice to the Empire.

He looks over to the Basileus

It seems he has already begun.

[_Tristan_]

A letter is handed to one of the Protoasecretes' aides. Unsealing it and quickly perusing it, the man visibly flinches and turns pale as chalk. with a shaky hand, he hands the letter to the Protoasecretes who grabs it absent-mindedly. Slowly scanning it, the Protoasecretes' eyes become larger and larger the further he reads. Then, hanging his head, he slowly and apprently unwillingly rises from his seat and starts reading :

"Senators of the Empire,

The most Holy City of Jerusalem has been freed by Byzantine arms. Too long had it been at the mercy of the Muslims who reigned over it. It was ample time that we showed them the might of our Empire.

However, I am sad to announce that this great city will not be a jewel to be added to the Basileus' crown.

Most my life, me and my family have suffered the scorn and the whims of our Basileus. The recent events have led me to believe that I'll be forever an enemy in the eyes of Ioannis Komnenos.

His grant of a pardon to the man who absconded with my daughter is only the last of the many insults done to me and mine.

I have often spoken out against Ioannis, rarely did I do anything to stand up to him. Even during the war that was declared between us, I chose not to take up arms against fellow Greeks.

But now, this must come to an end. I will not see the rest of my family suffer as I did. I must preserve my son and my daughters from the neglect of Basileus.

Having long considered the options available to me, I have decided that it was time for me the cut the bonds that tied me to this Empire, to free myself and mine from the yoke of an nepotic and unjust ruler.

I declare myself and my lands in secession from the Empire.

I invite any and all Senators who wish to live and fight for freedom and justice to come and join me. To those who prefer to stand by Ioannis, I warn them that should they decide to wage war on the lands of Egypt and Jerusalem, they'll soon discover what our enemies felt facing me.

Lastly, Ioannis, our agreement upon the marriage of my daughter Theodora is now broken. I will not lose another daughter because you cannot bring one of your vassals to heel.

Methodios Tagaris
Caesar of the Basileion ton Romaion no longer.
King of Jerusalem, Palestine and Northern Egypt.

[ULC]

Demetrios enters the Magnuara, a forlorn yet proud look upon his face.

"I have come bearing word to the Senators of the Roman Empire from my master Helarionas Anargiros. He wishes it to be known that he willingly surrendered Durazzo to the Basileus, and intentionally did so to avoid bloodshed."

"However - Helarionas Anargiros cannot except the Basileus's pardon with good conscience. He understands he has broken Imperial Law, and must face punishment for it, and does not think the loss of Durazzo is "just punishment". Inaccordance with this, and by request of Lady Aleksandra herself, Helarionas Anargiros himself surrenders his army and his life to Caesar Methodios Tagaris, for him to judge. He will leave his army in the care of his Captain Gerasimos and Mistress Chara and head to Egypt with Aleksandra, and will present himself before Caesar Methodios, unarmed and unguarded, and to be dealt with as the Caesar see fit."

After Demetrios finished, he looks around at the Magnuara, and sees stunned faces. Demetrios's look quickly turns quizzical as a page scurries up to him and whispers into his ear. Demetrios's face turns pallid as he he staggers backward to his seat, a look of horror and shock upon him as he stares at the page.

[KnightnDay]

In accordance with the wishes of the Basileus, I withdraw my declaration of war against Helarionas Anargiros and express my distinct relief that no more lives need be sacrificed as a result of this decision.

[Ituralde]

Nikitas Moschos can be heard laughing loudly.

This is just perfect! So the one outlawed Senator thinks that the punishment inflicted upon him by our Basileus is not enough and instead wishes to be sentenced by the former Caesar, now self-declared Despot of Egypt, handing him an army in the process! Am I the only one who finds this funny?

Well maybe this will mean the Caesar will actually mean what he says and wage war and not just sit around in his country home entertaining his daughters, who seem to be at the source of every problem we had recently.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A message from Theo Petzeas...

Senators,

I would like to announce my neutrality in this Methodios Tagaris' 'rebellion'!
Also, I would like to call Kousinos Sophianos to serve Order and, instead marching together with this Erotikos, march south to aid me against those vile Turks!

Theo Petzeas

[Zim]

In a corner Arintheos can be seen whispering to one of his aides. Arintheos seems agitated, and the aide fearful. After a few moments, the aide walks to the center of the room.

The Megas is distraught at this turn of events. He had hoped that his term would see an era of unity within the Empire, especially as it is threatened by outside forces. Instead it seems it is to be split asunder.

Megas Arintheos is committed to resolving this peacefully and will continue to focus on his duties of protecting the Empire and ending its current wars. However, he understands if the main participants are unable to come to an agreement and instead seek a resolution through battle. His only demand is that Imperial settlements captured in this war not be sacked or exterminated.

This isn't to be interpreted as the Megas declaring his neutrality, merely that in addition to his personal loyalties he recognizes a general duty to the Empire that comes with his position. He strongly backs the rightful Basileus Ioannis Komnenos, and will support him in whatever decision he makes to resolve the secession issue.

[KnightnDay]

Will Senator Markos ek Sinopis who swore an oath to the Caesar, please acknowledge where he stands on this grave matter?

[TheFlax]

My fellow senators,

Although my lord's plan to secede from the Empire was not known to me when I swore an oath to him, I will nevertheless stand by that oath. When one does not come from the many great families of the Empire, he has only his honor and his word. I choose to keep both intact, even though it might cost me everything in the end. You may ask me if I agree with my lord's decision or not, but I will choose not to answer for it is not relevant. I will only say that I have some understanding of my lords motives. I wish I could have served in this illustrious body for a great many more years, but my time with you is at an end.

Now that I am not only no longer a Senator but also a traitor, I would ask of our Basileus if he could have me arrested.

Markos waits passively in the center of the Magnaura for the guards to seize him.

[TinCow]

*The Protoasecretes eyes Markos suspiciously.*

In the Magnaura, I command the guards, not the Basileus. This is a place for debate and diplomacy, not violence, and I will not allow the armed men of any faction to violate this sacred place. Not even the Basileus can call these guards to action if I do not permit it.

Still, it is not every day that a Senator declares himself a traitor in the midst of the Magnaura and then waits passively to be arrested. Treason itself isn't much of a crime; why all the greatest of our Roman ancestors committed a treason at some point in their lives. However, in my day traitors had enough of a spine to actually rant about injustice and how they had been slighted, before either getting themselves killed or taking their own lives. Usually some spectacular battle or melodramatic speech came first, but it was always entertaining. This new-found passivity in treason is very un-Roman. So, for this violation of the traditional Roman laws on the proper way in which a traitor is to comport himself, I hereby order that you be arrested!

Guards...

*The Protoasecretes gestures to the armed men standing at the various doorways.*

...take this man into custody and... do whatever it is he wants done with himself.

*The guards hesitate and look a bit confused, until one shrugs and moves forward to grab Markos ek Sinopis.*

[ULC]

Demetrios quickly gets out of his seat and pushes his way to the guards, where he stands before them, hand on the hilt of his sword. "As proxy for my Lord Anargiros, I am allowed to declare our neutrality in this "secession". As such, Markos ek Sinopis is no longer at war with my Lord, and as per my Lords wishes, Markos now has sanctuary in my Lord's army. If a single one of you take one step further towards Lord Markos, I will severe that offending part."

[KnightnDay]

Ammonathas is visibly perturbed at this pitiful spectacle of Markos being led out of the Magnaura and the intervention of Demetrios.

Senators, perhaps Markos ek Sinopis is still suffering lingering effects from his recent combat with the renegade Helarionas. I had hoped that he would see things more clearly, but there seems little doubt that he is not of his right mind. I would leave it to men more wise than I to determine his fate.

And as for you Demetrios, you may tell your lord and master that I care not a whit of his wishes. It was only through an act of compassion of our emperor that both of your lives were spared.

To the matter of Methodios, now a traitor to his people, I see this as a most despicable act. To him I say, do not fool yourself into thinking that our Basileus stands alone and without allies in this open rebellion. If it has now become necessary to abandon my campaign against Venice before it starts, so it shall be. As long as I live, I will fight any foe who threatens to tear apart these lands through their blatant usurpation. Each of us serves the empire. If some have other designs, I tell you that their intentions will ultimately be revealed and it must surely lead to their just reward.

[Ituralde]

I hereby offer my full support to the Empire against the usurper "kingdom" led by Methodios Tagaris. I can only offfer little, but my personal estates, my personal wealth, and my own health I will bring forward to put an end to this rebellion. If the forces that are were to equip me with an army mighty enough I vow I'll go forward to crush these ambitious fools to the South. It's not the first time Romans have tried to rip the Empire apart and it will not be last time they fail!

[Andres]

A pale looking young man enters the Magnaura, wearing expensive silk clothes of the latest Byzantine fashion. His red and blurry eyes make it clear that he's suffering from a major hang-over.

He looks around him, seemingly intimidated by the older and more inexperienced Senators.

Evmathios Komnenos nods to nobody in particular and murmures an apology and something about not feeling too well and then sits down, asking one of the servants for a glas of water.

[Zim]

Arintheos' aide rises. The Megas had noted that Senator Kousinos Sophianos has continued to march westward, in the exact opposite direction from his beleagured House. With thousands of Imperial lives lost at Damascus and more likely to follow could the Megas at least some some hint as to your intent in abandoning the Holy Lands when your presence would easily turn the tables against the Turks?

[ULC]

An envoy enters the Magnaura and takes the center of the floor. Pulling out a scroll, the scribe begins speaking without the slightest bit of hesitation.

"His Lord Anargiros wishes it to be known, that he has gained the blessing of Caesar Tagaris, King of Jerusalem and Aegyptus, Lord of Arabia, Captain-General of Ilios Korakas, and successor and heir to the lands, powers, and righteousness of the Ptolemaic Kings of the successor kingdom of Megas Alexandros, to marry the most beautiful, fair, gentle, and wise Aleksandra Tagaris. As such, he does not require the Basileus's forgiveness, his reconciliation, his blessing, or his 'mercy'."

"By the powers specifically vested in me by my Lord Anargiros, who has just recently returned from Jerusalem both to seek Caesar Tagaris's blessing and from pilgrimage, I am to let it be known that Lord Helarionas Anargiros swears fealty to Caesar Methodios Tagaris, and by proxy and intention, declares not only neutrality with Markos ek Sinopis, but considers him an ally."

The Envoy rolls up the scroll with a huaghty twist of his hands, and with his chin held high, walks gracefully over to House Ilios Korakas and takes the seat reserved for him.

[Ituralde]

Bah! Helarionas Anargiros apparently spits upont the very ground we walk! He will ask for mercy and forgiveness soon enough. How can the rest of this body stand aside while the Empire falls apart around them. The largest armies we command are now of the hand of open rebels and those marching on Constantinople itself without voicing their motives. It is time to take action, for those who are true Romans to stand together united in arms!

[Andres]

Somebody gives a note to the pale Evmathios Komnenos. He sips from his goblet of water and stands up. After clearing his throat by making some rather distasteful sounds, he starts to speak.

At the request of our honourable and beloved Basileus, I hereby swear an oath of fealty to Senator Arintheos Voutoumitis.

May our Emperor and my Lord life long and prosper!

The young Senator sits down again.

[Zim]

I accept Evmathios Komnenos' oath of fealty.

[KnightnDay]

Ammonathas moves to the center of the Magnaura to address the assembly.

My lords, as you have now all witnessed, the envoy from Helarionas Anargiros has sworn an oath of loyalty to his new master, Caesar Methodios. I trust that you all find this as amusing as I do. Imagine, one man swears an oath to another who has demonstrated to the entire world that he holds no value in such a thing. A supreme irony indeed.

And now, what do we hear? This same Helarionas Anargiros, who publicly proclaimed that he would abandon his army and set sail for Egypt to join his master, has instead landed his forces in our lands and set upon the army of Senator Andreas Dermokaitis. I trust now that any man here, regardless of where his loyalties lie, see this loathsome criminal as nothing more than a rank opportunist. His words shall always ring hollow, and any fool that would heed them will in time pay the price for their idiocy.

Ammonathas moves to approach the seats of the House of Ilios Korakas and now addresses the envoy for Helarionas.

And as for you good sir, if you would be so kind as to inform your lord, when he has finished his business with Senator Dermokaitis, and attempts to return to his haven of ships waiting to carry him off to safety....he will not find them. You may tell him that rather than look to the waters for safety, he should look below them. For his means of escape now lie at the bottom of the Adriatic.